MOTD: Feb 11, 2022

Designed image with a screenshot of the video thumbnail image from the "you can say that again, billie" episode webpage, including a close-up, black and white photo of Billie Holiday singing in front of a microphone; the white play button is visible over the photo. The background of the image is teal with the multicolored Poetry in America logo in the top left. Top right, in white font reads, "Episode available now at poetryinamerica.org," and at the bottom center are two lines of text in white font outline
MOTD
The PBS series Poetry In America devoted their latest episode to a poem entitled "you can say that again, billie" by Evie Shockley, inspired by the anti-lynching song "Strange Fruit," written by Abel… Read More

MOTD: Feb 10, 2022

A photo of rapper Chuck D of Public Enemy on stage, wearing a black t-shirt and a black cap. He holds a microphone in his right hand close to his face. Stage lights flash behind him against a black backdrop.
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day // Chuck D, frontman for Public Enemy and RFC Advisory Board member, collaborated with Audible to create "Songs That Shook the Planet" about Black protest songs,… Read More

MOTD: Feb 01, 2022

Peak Performance logo
MOTD
Today’s Strange Fruit Mention of the Day features “Tony-nominated and Bessie-winning choreographer Donald Byrd and his Seattle-based company Spectrum Dance Theater” and their Feb 10-13 dance-theatre… Read More

MOTD: Jan 28, 2022

Photo of books stacked on their side. Caption reads, "The books shortlisted for the 2022 Wingate Literary Prize (Photo: Wingate Literary Prize / Twitter)"
MOTD
Congratulations to Anne Sebba: her biography of Ethel Rosenberg was just short listed for the 2022 Wingate Literary Prize! The UK-based honor “is awarded to the best book, fiction or non-fiction, to… Read More

MOTD: Dec 31, 2021

Ethel and Julius Rosenberg after their arrest in 1950. Black/white photo. They each stand against a height chart in their respective, side-by-side photos.
MOTD
We are honored to learn that The Guardian named this article one of their "US editor's pick: best of 2021." It was originally published on June 19th, on the 68th anniversary of Ethel and Julius… Read More

MOTD: Nov 24, 2021

Canberra community choir
MOTD
We love everything about this Strange Fruit Mention of the Day, which comes to us from Australia courtesy of a recycling, socially aware gospel chorus: “The Canberra community choir—named after two… Read More

MOTD: Nov 22, 2021

Actors and UF alumnae Anedra Small (left) and Reginald Wilson stand in front of a quilt made by members of the Alachua County Community Remembrance Project. “I can’t believe our ancestors were right below our feet,” Small said during the community dialogue. (WUFT News/ Avery Lotz)
MOTD
This Strange Fruit Mention of the Day highlights Activist Artists using “the live play format [to allow] audience members to see themselves in the characters and understand the depth of the… Read More

MOTD: Nov 17, 2021

Billy Holiday en 1942 au Ryan's à New York © Getty / Charles Peterson
MOTD
We received an interesting message recently from a French writer/director, Vincent Hazard, who wrote a radio play about "Strange Fruit" and Abel and Anne Meeropol (Abel is the song's author). As the… Read More

MOTD: Nov 10, 2021

Sculptor Jerome Meadows shakes the hand of his figure of Ed Johnson during its dedication at a memorial at the south side of the Walnut Street Bridge in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2021. The two other figures are those of Noah Parden and Styles Hutchens, two African-American attorneys from Chattanooga, who provided a courageous and successful defense for Johnson, who on March 19, 1906, was mob-lynched from the second span of the Walnut Street Bridge.
MOTD
Powerful words spoken at a ceremony to unveil a monument to a man lynched more than a century ago are today’s Strange Fruit MOTD: “More than 115 years after an angry mob lynched Ed Johnson from the… Read More

MOTD: Oct 26, 2021

A close-up photo of a hand holding up Anne Sebba's biography (paperback edition), "Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy" against the backdrop of a window, beige curtains & a white windowsill. Out the window, greenery & gray skies are visible. The cover of the book depicts a black & white photo of Ethel stepping out of a car, with three men in suits around her, looking towards her from outside the car.
MOTD
It’s a rainy, fall day. Perfect reading weather. 🍂 Returning to this brilliantly written biography by Anne Sebba, "Ethel Rosenberg: An American Tragedy." In one passage, Sebba relates the story of… Read More

MOTD: Oct 26, 2021

A close-up photo of a red, white & blue patchwork quilt on display at the Museum of Fine Arts. Caption: "“Votequilt” 1975, Irene Williams. Museum purchase with funds from the Frank B. Bemis Fund, the Heritage Fund for a Diverse Collection, and Gallery Instructor 50th Anniversary Fund to support The Heritage Fund for a Diverse Collection, and gift of Souls Grown Deep Foundation from the collection of Vanessa Vadim. © Estate of Irene Williams/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. PHOTO: MUSEUM OF FINE ART"
MOTD
Today’s visually stunning Strange Fruit #MOTD comes from an exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Available through Jan. 17, 2022, “Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories,” highlights 50… Read More

MOTD: Oct 20, 2021

A black and white photo, tinted purple. Ethel Rosenberg steps out of a car facing the camera. Three men in suits, coats, & hats stand around the car and look to her. Ethel wears a mid-length plaid skirt, a white blouse, a coat, and a hat.
MOTD
Rosenberg Mention of the Day, courtesy of an excellent review of Anne Sebba’s biography of Ethel (we especially appreciate the reviewers conclusion re: Anne & Abel Meeropol):

MOTD: Oct 19, 2021

Tonya Pinkins, wearing a red dress with her hair done up in a bun, sits on stage with lights darkened to black behind her, spotlight on her. She faces slightly to the right and grips a microphone to her chest. Her eyes are closed, and her face is emotional.
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: "Broadway and TV Star, Tonya Pinkins, sings a new jazz ballad that was released [on Oct 14th] on George Floyd's birthday, to honor his memory. The song is called '… Read More

MOTD: Oct 14, 2021

A sepia-tone photo of a group of six friends out to dinner in NYC circa 1940s. They wear suits and dresses, some smile for the picture, others just look at the camera. There are seated around a round table covered with a white tablecloth, empty bottles and glasses on the the tabletop. Three are smoking.
MOTD
Rosenberg Mention of the Day: A review of Anne Sebba’s biography by Martha Sonnenberg that “must, of necessity, begin with a personal note..." "When I was 13 years old, my mother took, from the deep… Read More

MOTD: Oct 13, 2021

A collage of photos. Top left, a woman with long, dark hair and light colored clothes stands, looking down, all bathed in bright orange lighting. Top right, a woman with short, light hair wears a white tank top, seated at a patio table, she tilts her head to the left, resting on her hand and poses for the photo. Bottom photo, three people wearing light clothing pose for a photo among wildflowers, waist high, with sunset backdrop.
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: From WBUR’s “7 Albums to listen to this fall,” we’re excited for Naomi Westwater, 'Feelings': 🔳 “Boston’s Naomi Westwater uses their newest release, a kaleidoscopic… Read More

MOTD: Oct 12, 2021

quilt with the names of 5,000 Black people who were lynched between 1865 and 1965. By artist April Shipp. Photo by: Lauren Edwards Fox 17
MOTD
Strange Fruit MOTD: “‘The people on my quilt didn’t get funerals’: 10-ft quilt at ArtPrize honors victims of lynching"

MOTD: Oct 05, 2021

Title: "ilkley literature festival - autumn 2021 - book now" over orange tinted collage of book covers
MOTD
Today’s Rosenberg MOTD comes from “across the pond” courtesy of what sounds like a fascinating literary festival: “In an age of fake news that can create misinformation on crucial issues, Ilkley… Read More

MOTD: Oct 01, 2021

Split-screen image of performers Beyonce and Drake
MOTD
Strange Fruit Mention of the Day: Rolling Stone just updated their list of the 500 greatest songs of all time. Take a look (pay special attention to #21), then let us know if you agree with their top… Read More
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